Cam Newton, Patriots quarterback, has tested positive for the coronavirus and will be out against Kansas City. Newton appears to be the only case.
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Patriots’ QB Cam Newton tested positive and is out for Sunday’s game vs. Kansas City, per @FieldYates and me.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 3, 2020
Cam Newton Case Appears Isolated
After news broke out that Cam Newton had tested positive, the Patriots responded with mass testing. As of right now, it seems like it’s only Cam Newton.
Patriots have been doing mass testing and re-testing and, so far, there is no spread, per source. https://t.co/0XyCkixjgv
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 3, 2020
This has to be good news for the Patriots and the league. Currently, Tennessee is suffering from a Covid outbreak that has affected eight players and eight staff members. The Covid-19 pandemic continues to threaten the continuation of the NFL season.
New England released an official statement following Cam Newton’s test results.
Official statement from the Patriots: pic.twitter.com/Xh9nQKTIly
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 3, 2020
#Patriots players were alerted this morning to come in and get POC tests because a player had tested positive. That player is Cam Newton. The immediate results were no more positives. As we’ve seen in Tennessee, results often take days to manifest.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 3, 2020
Also read: NFL News: When Will Steelers vs. Titans Game Take Place?
Several Questions Ahead of Patriots vs. Chiefs
Despite the case being isolated for now there are still worries about how the Patriots vs. Chiefs game will proceed. As the league has seen with the Titans, cases can break out days after the initial results.
Furthermore, the Chiefs also have to be worried. If any other Patriot player has the disease, it threatens the Chiefs’ safety as well.
Moreover, if positive cases continue to rise after this game, then the league would have to make more scheduling changes.
The NFL has to proceed with extreme caution. One outbreak has already threatened the continuation of the season and two might be the final nail in the coffin.
There needs to be clear exact protocols or at least a better idea of timeline when a player tests positive for COVID. Wouldn’t logic say that other Patriots might have been exposed? If that’s the case…they’d still be exposing the next team even if the ‘positive’ player is out
— Taylor Rooks (@TaylorRooks) October 3, 2020
Cam Newton Backup Option
Assuming the game goes on, the Patriots will be at a severe disadvantage. Newton had emerged as a reliable starter through the first three weeks.
Instead, the Patriots will now have to turn to an unproven Jarret Stidham or an inconsistent Brian Hoyer. Meanwhile, the Chiefs will trot out Super Bowl MVP Patrick Mahomes. You can see the disparity.
The Patriots offense will struggle as they get used to another new quarterback and this could spell disaster for them. Kansas City is no easy match-up and not having your starting quarterback is a major blow.
Also read: NFL Injury Update: Updates On Julio Jones, Michael Thomas, George Kittle
